Technology has taken some wonderful turns since Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, made his debut in 1938. The Man of Steel has kept up with changing entertainment avenues probably more than any other fictional character. From his roots in comics and newspaper comic strips, to the upcoming Zack Snyder film, he has upheld the values of “Truth, Justice and the American Way” in virtually every form of media known – including a musical.
But one medium for Superman’s expanded growth into the American consciousness is often overlooked in modern times. Few recall that not only was Jimmy Olsen a product of the nightly radio serials in the 1940s, kryptonite was also invented to give Bud Collyer a short vacation from his job providing the voice of Superman. Fans of today see Superman with various faces. Simply the name, Superman, brings to mind the interpretations of countless artists to comic book readers. The faces of Christopher Reeve, Dean Cain, Tom Welling and Brandon Routh (maybe even George Reeves for some old timers) are what springs to the mind’s eye for most. You might even think of his various animated incarnations. But how many of you associate a voice for the Man of Tomorrow? There are a few great ones from animated features over the years, but Bud Collyer was the definitive voice for many years both on the radio and in animated shorts.
Bud Collyer, voice of Clark Kent/Superman
Which is the long-winded way of saying, Superman on the radio was awesome in the 1940s. Thanks to technology, you can still enjoy it today – much like I have over the last few days. I recently found a collection in my local library titled Superman Last Son of Krypton. It’s 10 compact discs worth of radio plays from 1948 and ’49. [Oddly, both libraries and CDs are rapidly becoming outdated technology as well.] Each nightly episode was about 15 minutes long, meaning there are four episodes per disc. It’s very different from the Superman you would expect. But, in some ways, it’s the exact same story we’ve been enjoying for 70 plus years. I’ll be reviewing the entire set in a few parts as I finish them. Today we’ll cover the first, 16-epsiode story arc, The Mystery of the Stolen Costume (March 10-31, 1948).
When Clark comes home to his apartment to find his secret closet has been opened, with his spare costume stolen, he is clearly worried. Even if the criminal was robbing his apartment at random, the perpetrator now knows that Clark Kent is Superman. Not knowing what to do from here, Clark calls in his good friend from Gotham City, Bruce Wayne.
Why Bruce? Well, he’s not only the world’s greatest detective, but they share the mutual secret of the other’s dual identity. What I found strange about Batman’s involvement is that he and Robin were not dark vigilantes of the night. In fact, they’re quite famous. Batman being friends with Clark Kent did not seem unusual in the slightest to Lois, Jimmy, Perry or the Metropolis police department. Batman, Robin and Clark (not Superman) even walked into a police HQ together and asked for three sets of fingerprints to be checked. The three prints were taken from the closet. One set was Clark’s, another the perp’s, and the third was Batman’s – which he had no problem telling the officer. Really? Batman’s just going to give his own, identified prints to a cop? Clearly radio land from the 1940s is a different place than the world Grant Morrison writes. I also found it odd that the Dynamic Duo actually got the crap kicked out of them more than once. The beatings aren’t from overpowered superhumans, robots, aliens from another planet or any of the other usual suspects. Instead, a handful of mob thugs with saps make quick work of them – yet still don’t bother to unmask them since they’re only sent by the boss to collect Clark.
The mob toughs are classics of the genre. In one sequence the “racketeer” boss is conversing with his piano-playing majordomo, Chopin. The two are pining for the days of the old mayor, before Perry White won the job (huh?) and started sticking it to the criminal element. “Remember the old days, when you could spit in a dick’s eye?” Yes, that’s an actual line. I quote it for mood, but also at the humor that comes from the changing landscape of language in our society.
Superman has also changed a lot in 63 years. These gangsters actually posed a threat to Superman at the time, particularly in “unmasking” the hero. Sure he was bullet proof, and “more powerful than a locomotive,” but he was not indestructible. At the time, stopping a speeding train still exhausted him. He’s since grown much more powerful in our legends. Another thing you don’t see in the modern versions of the heroes is made in clear in dialogue between Supes and Batman. While Superman is clearly intent on assuming the worst and is in constant fear of everyone lying to him (including Lois and Jimmy, even though his clumsy demeanor has him almost blowing his own cover in every conversation), Batman is ever the optimist. Once they find the original thief’s body in a park, Batman sees it as case closed. It’s Clark that wants to press the investigation since he assumes everyone is a high level criminal. Finally, neither hero seems inclined to let criminals rehabilitate. While neither goes so far as to kill a bad guy, both are enthusiastic about the criminals facing the electric chair. Their crime, two counts of kidnapping.
Clearly the world was a different place in 1948. That much is obvious through the story itself. But it’s also made extremely clear in other ways. I’ll get back to that in later parts of the review (that may highlight my own ignorance of the era more than the difference between then and now). For now, just know that Superman is an American icon for a reason. Radio is a different medium for the character than most of know, but these serials were put together extremely well. And even if this Superman is a bit of jerk, and has limitations to his powers, he’s still the amazing hero we’ve all loved.
These and other radio serials are available from Radio Spirits or Amazon. You can also check your local library, you might find some other interesting things as well.
And check back soon on Big Shiny Robot! for my reviews of the rest of the collection.